42 SECOND THOUSAND QUESTIONS IN AGRICULTURE 



sure to note that he did not commend sorghum for alkali but for its 

 ability to make use of lots of water put on to wash out alkali. Sorghums 

 do not like alkali, but take kindly to a place after the alkali has gone. The 

 newer sorghums are commended for drouth, but not for drouth and alkali. 



Sorghum in Coast Valleys. 



Would Egyptian corn or sorghum do fairly well in the Pajaro Valley? 

 It does not seem to be grown. Will it do in this coast climate? 



The sorghums are relatively less valuable in the coast valleys because 

 the conditions which make them most valuable in the interior valleys, 

 viz., resistance to heat and dry air, are not called into play. Probably In- 

 dian corn should be preferred with you. 



Feterita. 



What is feterita and where did it come from? 



Feterita is a sorghum. It was imported by the government from 

 Africa in 1911. It belongs to the durra group, and is similar to milo and 

 Kaffir, except that it has a larger grain, which is round and almost pure 

 white, and the plant matures in less time. Like Kaffir and milo, it is 

 drouth resistant, and held to be more resistant than either the milo, Kaffir 

 or shallu. Its foliage is likely to hold green after Kaffir and other simi- 

 lar corn has been killed by frost. It does not shell off and waste while 

 handling as badly as does Kaffir. The heads grow erect, are of good size 

 and compact. 



Harvesting Sorghum Grain. 



Tell me how to harvest Egyptian corn. What is the best implement 

 to cut the corn? Is there a ready market for it? 



Egyptian, Kaffir and other sorghums for grain are usually allowed to 

 dry on the head in the field and are then cut off with pruning shears or 

 knives, thrown into wagons, and piled in the barn or stacked beside it 

 to be threshed when convenient. Much of it is fed without threshing. It 

 is a standard corn on the market and has a ready sale. (See also Part 

 III, Vol. 1.) 



Indian Corn or Sorghums. 



Would Kaffir corn do well on sandy loam, and is it more profitable 

 than Indian corn? I have irrigation water. 



Kaffir corn and other sorghums will outdo Indian corn in most in- 

 terior valley situations because they stand heat and drouth better, and 

 both are good feeds. Both should be sown as soon as frost dangers are 

 over usually by May 1st but the land should be well prepared long 

 before that time. (See also Part III, Vol. 1.) Sorghum will usually 

 yield in grain a little more than Indian corn under favorable conditions 

 and a great deal more under hard conditions. With fairly good condi- 

 tions you might get fifty bushels per acre. Sorghum will do more with 



